The meeting room fell silent. Not the comfortable kind.
The suffocating kind.
The kind where everyone present was trying their best not to say something they would regret.
Several elders sat around the room with expressions ranging from irritated to outright hostile.
One of them even looked like he had bitten into something sour.
Unfortunately for them, none of those expressions changed anything. Because, regardless of how much they disliked it... They had agreed.
"...Fine."
The eldest amongst them spoke through clenched teeth.
"We'll support it."
Not because they wanted to. But, because opposing Hiroyuki openly had become increasingly difficult over the years.
The boy had influence.
He had accomplishments.
Power to back it all up.
And perhaps most annoyingly... He was usually right.
A dangerous combination.
"But for this, our clan alone won't be enough. You know that, right?"
The elder continued.
"You'll need at least the other two. Otherwise, those old snakes won't budge."
"I know."
Hiroyuki's response came immediately.
Calm. Flat. As if he had expected the answer from the very beginning.
Another elder frowned.
"How are you planning to get them on your side?"
He leaned slightly forward.
"Especially those bastards at the Zenin Clan."
His expression darkened.
"No way they'll agree to you."
For a brief moment, silence returned.
Then Hiroyuki stood up.
The movement was simple. Yet it immediately drew everyone's attention.
"You don't need to worry about that uncle."
His voice remained neutral. Almost indifferent. Yet for some reason... The room grew colder.
"I have my ways."
The words themselves weren't threatening. The tone, however... Was something else entirely.
Several elders exchanged glances. One even felt a chill run down his spine. Not because he feared Hiroyuki. At least, that's what he would tell himself later.
But because that answer sounded less like confidence... And more like something else.
"Now, if you excuse me..." Without saying anything else, Hiroyuki turned around and left.
The door slid shut behind him. Silence followed shortly afterward.
Not because there was nothing left to discuss. Quite the opposite.
Everyone present was simply making sure Hiroyuki was truly gone before speaking.
Eventually.
"...This is a terrible idea."
One elder finally broke the silence.
Several others nodded.
Another elder immediately scoffed.
"Which part?"
"The proposal."
"The timing."
"The people involved."
"The fact that we're even discussing it."
The complaints came one after another.
Yet strangely enough. None of them sounded particularly convinced. Because everyone present knew something.
If the proposal were truly impossible. They would've rejected it hours ago.
The problem wasn't that it couldn't work. The problem was that it just might. And that possibility was far more troublesome.
"Do you think he'll succeed?"
The question lingered in the air. No immediate answer came. Not because they didn't know. But because none of them wanted to be the first to say it.
Eventually.
The eldest sighed.
"I don't know."
"Neither do I."
"Nor do I."
A few chuckles followed. However, it is as dry and humorless as it can be. The kind old men shared when faced with something they disliked.
"The real issue isn't whether he'll succeed."
That immediately gained everyone's attention.
"He'll move regardless."
No response came. Because that was true. Painfully true. They watched Hiroyuki grow up, and they knew that it had always been like that.
Once he decided something was worth pursuing. Convincing him otherwise became exceedingly difficult.
"He's becoming troublesome."
The statement earned several nods.
To say that they simply disliked the kid was far from the truth really. Although some certainly did, it was more directed at this one irritating habit of his.
Whenever people believed they had finally figured him out. He changed directions.
Every single time.
"Do you remember when he first attended these meetings?"
A few elders exchanged glances.
"Unfortunately."
"He barely spoke."
Another elder snorted.
"Now he walks in, argues with everyone for hours, and leaves with exactly what he wanted."
"..."
"..."
Nobody could argue with that.
The eldest elder let out a long sigh.
"The problem is that he's no longer a child."
Several expressions darkened.
Because that was perhaps the most troublesome realization of all.
The boy they used to observe from afar had quietly become a man capable of influencing the future direction of the clan itself.
And he wasn't even twenty.
"Nineteen."
One elder corrected.
The room somehow became even quieter.
"Nineteen..." One muttered, as though the number itself offended him.
Eventually, another spoke.
"Do you think the Zenin Clan will agree?"
"Ha! As if." The answer came immediately.
"What about the Kamo Clan?"
"The odds are better than Zenin but probably not."
"Then why is he so confident?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Several gazes drifted toward the closed door. Toward the direction Hiroyuki had left.
A moment later.
The eldest elder released another sigh.
"...That's exactly what worries me."
________The next morning..._________
The Gojo Estate was unusually lively.
Servants moved back and forth. Children secretly peeked around corners. Even some clan members had found excuses to pass through certain areas.
After all.
Today was the day. The day Hiroyuki and Satoru would have their 'usual' spar. Again.
By the time Hiroyuki arrived at the training grounds, a familiar white-haired child was already waiting.
Satoru stood in the middle of the field with his arms crossed.
Trying his best to look serious.
The effort lasted exactly three seconds.
"Nii-san."
"Morning."
Satoru folded his arms.
Trying and failing to appear casual.
"You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago."
Hiroyuki paused, glanced toward the sky... then at Satoru.
"No. I wasn't."
"..."
"..."
Satoru immediately snorted.
Behind Hiroyuki, Senjumaru quietly followed as usual.
The three eventually entered the training grounds together.
Unlike yesterday.
The atmosphere today felt much lighter.
Much more natural.
Hiroyuki glanced around the open field before shifting his attention towards his younger brother.
"After this, I don't want some lame excuses like you were holding back or something."
Satoru's grin widened.
"Wasn't planning to."
"Good."
Hiroyuki folded his arms.
"Show me everything you've learned while I was away."
The challenge was simple.
Yet Satoru's eyes visibly brightened as a wide smile appeared on his face.
"Nii-san. If it's you, I have no problem doing that."
His confidence was immediate.
Natural. Expected.
Then a second later...
Satoru looked around the field and scratched his cheek.
"...I'm feeling sorry in advance for the servants."
"Hmm?"
"Cleaning this place later is gonna be a nightmare."
Hearing that, Senjumaru nodded and quietly stepped forward.
"You needn't concern yourself with such matters, Young Master."
Satoru blinked.
Then watched as Senjumaru calmly brought both hands together.
A hand sign formed.
Immediately.
The surrounding area darkened.
A faint ripple spread through the air.
The world itself seemed to fold inward.
A moment later.
A translucent barrier enveloped the entire training ground.
The scenery remained visible.
Yet something had clearly changed.
Satoru's eyes gleamed as he watched all this with a fascinated look.
His attention instantly shifted.
The spar forgotten.
Well, for a moment that is.
"This is the first time I've seen this Barrier technique." Satoru stepped closer. Observing the barrier with obvious intent.
"It's recently developed."
"You made it?"
"I... contributed," Senjumaru said as she exchanged knowing glances with Hiroyuki.
"The concept seems similar to Simple Domain...?" Satoru immediately asked
A hint of surprise flashed through Senjumaru's eyes.
"...Partially. That's right."
"It borrows several concepts."
"Though its purpose is different."
The young Six Eyes user immediately became even more interested.
"How does it work? Can—"
Before the discussion could evolve into an entire lecture.
Hiroyuki interrupted.
"Basically..."
Both turned towards him, expecting an explanation.
"We don't need to worry about damaging the area too much."
"..."
"..."
Satoru stared at him.
Then at Senjumaru.
Then back at Hiroyuki.
"Nii-san... You really are terrible at explanations."
"More like efficient."
"Terrible."
"Terribly efficient."
"..."
Senjumaru quietly hid her amusement.
The brothers continued staring at each other for several seconds.
Eventually.
Satoru snorted.
Hiroyuki shook his head.
And the atmosphere naturally settled.
At last.
The older brother stepped forward.
The younger mirrored him.
The distance between them slowly closed.
Then Hiroyuki spoke.
"So."
A faint smile appeared.
"Shall we start?"
Satoru's grin widened.
"Thought you'd never ask." The moment the words left his mouth.
He vanished.
And Hiroyuki smiled.